What the Stock Market has Become

Buy low, sell high. Get in and get out. Day-traders. Penny stocks. These are the popular terms of this generation. Get in by 10 AM and out before lunch. It seems that no one wants to heed the words of Warren Buffett regarding the buying and selling of stocks: “If you are not willing to own a stock for 10 years, do not even think about owning it for 10 minutes.” The stock market used to be an avenue for companies and investors alike to share and uphold certain values such as growth and longevity. When companies would make the decision to “go” public, the initial price offering (IPO) would serve as an open invitation to bring forward new part-owners of the company. Investors were buying into a company that they believed in, whether it was their product, their management, or a combination of both. Full post…

Morning Wire — US Stock-Index Futures Down Sharply

US index futures are somewhat higher this morning as talks between Greece and other Eurozone countries adjourned without a resolution. Creditors are reportedly seeking a 4% coupon on new Greek bonds, exactly double what the European Central Bank and the IMF have offered. European markets are also sinking today, while markets in India and Japan are up. Markets in China and Hong Kong are closed for the lunar new year holiday.

At about 8:30 a.m. ET, Germany’s DAX is down -1.04% at 6,369.44 and France’s CAC 40 is down -1.10%, at 3,301.61. In London, the FTSE 100 is down -0.84%, at 5,734.20.

In Asia, the Hong Kong and Shanghai exchanges remain closed for the lunar new year holiday. The Nikkei index closed up 0.22%, at 8,785.33.

Dow futures are down -0.33%, at 12,608.00. The

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Fundamental Oil Report (2012-01-16)

NewsCrude oil struggles at the beginning of the weekPreviousForecastAnalysisCrude oil struggles amid mixed factors that affecting it, where the downgrade moves in Europe have added fears into global markets and hit the confidence among investors, which countered the effect from the Iranian issue which played a great role in keeping crude above $100, however, the effect of downgrade move won in putting crude below this level.

How to write a customized cover letter

In order to taste victory in the job market, you must convince a hiring manager that you can financially benefit the company and that you are likable, too. Before securing an interview, stating your case begins with a cover letter. Learn how to write a customized cover letter that emphasizes your unique qualifications to stay ahead of the game.

For the most part, resumes are a painful bore for employers. Names and jobs change, but the anonymity remains the same. The cover letter is an applicant’s chance to stand out from the herd and capture some interview time. Tailor your cover letter to the company in your sights, and your chances of receiving attention increase. It isn’t as hard as you think.

Admittedly, resume blasts to large groups of companies within a desired field require a great deal of time if you plan to customize each cover letter from scratch. Thu

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What should I do if I lose my job during an IVA?

When you’ve been struggling with unmanageable debts, entering into an IVA (Individual Voluntary Arrangement) can be a huge relief. Once agreed, it guarantees your debt repayments and other living costs should all be affordable, and if all goes to plan the unsecured debt you can’t afford to repay will be written off, normally after five years.

But what happens if you lose your job? You may not be able to keep up with your agreed repayments – and that can be very worrying. However, there are normally safeguards in place to help ensure your IVA can still continue, if there is a way to do that that’s fair to both you and your lenders.

Taking a break from your IVA

If you genuinely can’t afford to carry on with your IVA payments for a while because of a period of unemployment, you may be allowed to take a ‘payment break’. This break might last as long as six months, during which time you’ll hopefully find another job. Full post…

Dench receives Japanese royalty honour

Top Japanese Nobel Prize of Arts rewards global artists.

Dench receives Japanese royalty honour is categorized as entertainment. This video was licensed from Grab Networks. The copyright notice of this video is © 2011 Reuters Entertainment.

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How to Make Your Midlife Career Change a Success

Do you still think of realizing your childhood dream, but have unwillingly settled yourself in a job you don’t find interesting? This has happened to many of us, and a career change is one solution to counter the boredom and dissatisfaction that comes from a wrong career move. A midlife career change, if successful, will boost your self-esteem and give you immense satisfaction. Changing your career during this period is good, if you really wish to try something new, learn about various fields, or just want How to Plan a Midlife Career Change and Make it Successful Lots of people have changed careers in their midlife, but only some of them have managed to be successful with the change. Full post…